Please help with verifying or updating older sections of this article. At least some were last verified for version 2.2.

This article is for the PC version of Stellaris only.

Every habitable planet has the potential of developing different kinds of intelligent beings that may, naturally or not, develop technologically. Sometimes, such beings reach a crucial point in their development that allows them access to FTL technology and, as a consequence, the ability to become full-fledged interstellar empires.

A species may or may not equate with an empire. At first every empire will be made up entirely of its original species but eventually, it may include other species through conquest, migration pacts or accepting refugees.

Note: A higher resolution image is available by clicking on the portraits.

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Species identity

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At galaxy generation species are divided into parent and sub-species.

A parent species is the first spawned species of its kind (a kind is defined by its portrait). All further species with the same portrait, but with differing name/traits is considered a sub-species of it within the game. A new sub-species created by an existing sub-species will simply appear as another sub-species alongside it within the parent species.

Species within the same phenotype group will be friendlier towards each other with the effect increasing if they are sub-species within the same species family. This, in turn, can affect other relation modifiers.

List of species groups

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A number of species are pre-defined, including the Humans of the Sol system. There are, at the moment, 8 different species groups that each race can belong to: Arthropoid (insect-like), Avian (bird-like), Fungoid (fungus-like), Humanoid, Mammalian, Molluscoid (invertebrates), Reptilian, and Plantoid (part of the Plantoids Species Pack DLC).

Each species have traits and ethics that can be selected, as well as homeworld preference. Traits and ethics are independent of the species or portrait selected, though players can, of course, use the portrait art as inspiration for their choices, adding to role-playing.

The first ruler of every empire can be customized. For non-humanoid species customization is limited to colors and possibly clothes, while some humanoid species feature hairstyle customization too. Humanoids are the only species group to feature differences in gender appearance. Humans, though Mammalian, appear in a separate phenotype (Humanoids).[1]

There is an option for player-defined species, complete with traits, ethics and government type to appear in the game as AI nations.

Note: The order of the portraits is meant to reflect their in-game order.

The Ratling portrait was first shown off at PDXCON 2018[2] and was released for free alongside the with the 2.1 (Niven) patch. It always appears for Ketling Empire galactic event, as well, as Racket caravaneers.

Reptilian

Slender #2

Normal #10

Massive #14

Slender #3

Normal #7

Massive #12

Normal #9

Massive #11

Normal #6

Normal #13

Slender #1

Normal #8

Slender #4

Massive #15

Slender #5

Reptilian #16

Reptilian #17

Note: The Gecko (Reptilian #16) portrait is part of the Cuties Portraits Pack, included in the Leviathans Story Pack DLC.

The Mantis Shrimp (Arthropoid #19) portrait was originally released with the Bradbury Multiplayer Beta Patch as an incentive for opting-in before being released officially as part of the 1.8 update. It is available to those who login to their Paradox account while in-game[5].